Carl Froch is concerned for his close friend Ricky Hatton, who makes a controversial comeback against Vyacheslav Senchenko in Manchester tomorrow night.

A week after successfully defending his IBF super-middleweight title against America’s Yusaf Mack, Froch will sit ringside at the sold-out MEN Arena knowing that Hatton (above) is taking a big risk lacing up the gloves again three and a half years after his last bout ended in a devastating second-round knock-out defeat against Manny Pacquiao.

“I’m not suggesting he shouldn’t come back,” said Froch.

“If Ricky wants to come back, that’s his decision. Good luck to him. But let’s just hope he is in as good shape as he looks and that he doesn’t get hurt. I’ve never been knocked out in my career, but I know from seeing it happen to people I like that it’s no fun.

“Ricky is a good friend of mine, I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I’m sure he’ll be fine. But I’d hate to see him get wiped out or hurt.”

Hatton, the 34-year-old former two-weight world champion, insists he will be at his “meanest and most ferocious” after claiming to have overcome well-publicised battles with drink, weight-gain and depression that left him suicidal.

Senchenko is a 35-year-old Ukrainian who is coming off the loss of his WBA welterweight title to Paulie Malignaggi, the New Yorker who Hatton stopped in November 2008.

Senchenko failed to turn up for the duo’s pre-fight press conference at Manchester Town Hall yesterday.